Author: Michelle Felt

Categories
nostalgia

What a Teenager’s Room Looked Like in the Late 90s

IMG_0009

This is kind of a time capsule post. I just came across these photos in a folder. On a hard drive. Why not vomit them onto the interwebs?

This is what my late 90s room looked like.

When pictures were taken with disposable cameras because your family didn’t own a real camera.

For starters, I was OBSESSED with The Offspring in high school, but if I share a few more photos I probably won’t need to tell you that.

Cds were important as well as a big boom box. Now I can put my iPhone in a bowl and jam out to 100+ albums or unlimited albums if I listen through Rdio.

I smoked off/on for a few years in high school and I used to have the woman I babysat for buy me cartons, which I then gave/sold to friends and kept the remainder hidden behind one of my dresser drawers. #teenagesecrets

My room circa 2000_0001

I drew, oil pasteled, and color penciled Offspring artwork. This is around the time my skull obsession started. Btw, it’s still going strong seventeen years later.

my room circa 2000

I also cut things out of magazines. Like the absolut ads in the previous photos, most of those were stolen from library magazines. With a razor blade.

My room circa 2000_0002More Offspring. Prom flowers. Beta food. Movie ticket stubs.

IMG_0012

There was also a lot of Star Wars. This was around the time of the remastered releases to the theaters. I also had a 20+ troll collection. My favorites were from Russ.

sc0198

I had at least 4 Offspring posters and almost every inch of my walls were covered. When I moved out it was pretty crazy taking down all of the clippings. I think I threw most of them out at the time or saved them for a few years before recycling them.

1.xx.96_0005I few years before Offspring arrived, I had a Keanu corner sprinkled with a little bit of Jim Carrey and Matthew Broderick.

1.xx.96_0004Yes. You’re seeing that correctly, a Johnny Mnemonic poster alongside A Walk in the Clouds.

My room circa 2000_0003More skulls.

How was your room decorated as a teenager of the late 90s? Can you relate to my ocd-style of decorating?

Categories
diy

I Hacked a Standing Desk

Ikea standing desk hack

Today was my first day using a standing desk and I LOVED it!

I wish I had a before picture of this space, because it’s dramatically different.

Before feelings.

Aesthetics. I used to have a 1970s brown desk. Ugly.

Location location location. It faced the back wall. Everyone that approached me came from behind and above. I hated it. According to Greatist, I was missing out on the commanding position. It sounds sexual, but I assure you it’s not.

Pretzel-ness. After a few hours of working in a chair, my body curls into this left leaning fetal position as I type. Also, my legs are crossed. I couldn’t help but think I was slowly killing off my organs and circulation.

Because of the miserable space and the desire to want to enjoy it—space where I spend 65% of my week—I decided I had to find a way to make it work.

The task seemed impossible though, I don’t have much space to work with and resources aren’t readily available.

What was repurposed?

Others in my hallway had recently cleared out extra desks and other pieces of random furniture. They were left at the end of the hall in what sometimes turns into an office junkyard.

The desk above captured my eye. Its white-grey brilliance feels a million times better than the brown, there’s just something open about it.

The white desk is a little bit longer, but I shifted it to fit, which also allows me to assume the commanding position. Finally.

The ‘wall’ between the two desks is not attached to the back wall. The two desks support its existence. Luckily the new arrangement did too.

The second repurposed item was the shelf that holds my keyboard. My husband ordered that from Ikea for his standing desk and due to his tall stature didn’t end up needing it. Perfect for me.

What was bought new?

The table. It’s the Amazon version of the Ikea Lack except I was able to use my prime shipping.

The mat. An anti-fatigue mat is recommended, “This will provide support for your feet and relieve pressure on your heels, back, legs, and shoulders, which in turn helps you stand for longer.” Side note: if you go to amazon and look at the stock photos, enjoy the sexism. Man working at an office desk. Woman and child in the kitchen.

The plant. I bought the plant at Safeway on an impulse and I’m so happy I did. Plants add oxygen to the air and just the fact that there’s something green and growing in your immediate vicinity makes everything about work feel more inspiring.

General hardware. Four machine bolts with washers to support the shelf. Four wood screws to attach the shelf to the brackets—you don’t have to, but it adds good support.

$95ish dollars total.

How was my first day?

Wonderful! I haven’t felt that refreshed at work in awhile. Before today, I couldn’t have imagined what it would be like to stand and type. I thought it was impossible. It was actually incredibly comfortable. Time seemed to pass quickly and I never felt the need to lean or sit down. It was so great in fact that I ordered another table and shelf to make one for my home office.

I can’t wait to see how I feel after a few weeks! I’m curious to see if my fitbit steps increase, my legs get more toned, and my hips loosen up a bit. #expectingmiracles

How to hack your own standing desk – see $22 Ikea Standing Desk.

It’s all in the measurements.

Do you have a standing desk and have seen benefits? Myself and other readers would love to hear.

Categories
television addict

Three and a Half Seasons into Breaking Bad

walter-white-jesse-pinkmanTwo weeks ago we started watching Breaking Bad (BB). I’m actually pretty surprised it took us this long to dive in.

Back in 2011 when we were apartment hunting in Portland over the 4th of July we chose to skip a big city’s firework festivities and instead embrace a BB marathon until three in the morning. We couldn’t stop watching that night, yet somehow here we are a good five years later and beginning the journey anew with faint remembrances of what we saw so long ago.

I always feel weird watching a show with main characters that I can’t relate to on a surface level, whether it’s because I don’t do the things they do or I would never hang out with someone like them.

At first.

Somehow, I quickly become accustomed to the fact that I am rooting for the person about to murder, cheat, escape, and the list goes on.

If it’s a well written show, those surface level characteristics fade away—sort of—as you get to know the meth maker, gambler, mobster, or serial killer. You get to know the other side. The side that embodies all of those quirky human traits that are relatable.

The character that wants to…

  • protect their family
  • punish the bad people
  • have their _________ validated
  • make their family proud
  • prove everyone wrong
  • enjoys a cold beer or good cup of coffee
  • be better than the last mistake they made

Back to Breaking Bad…

Thoughts on the Characters

Walter White

He’s a brilliant chemist teaching bored apathetic high schoolers while watching his peers chase after and attain success. He’s let the world mount his shoulders to the point of emasculation with everyone around him talking about him and making decisions for him as if he’s not in the room.

Cancer. Shaved head. Making meth. Not just any meth. Perfect chemically stable meth.

A new riskier Walt emerges from the shaved-hair and chemo ashes.

Walt has rage. Rage he’s been internalizing.

I need the bromance of Walt and Jesse. I’m upset when they fight and put each other in danger only to rescue one or the other at the last minute.

jesse-pinkmanJesse

I would avoid Jesse like the plague in real life. If there’s one thing my Dad taught me it’s guilty by association. I abandoned any real life druggie friends when I graduated high school. But. I. Can’t. Get. Enough. of Jesse.

I don’t know what it is. I watch him and I want him to succeed. I want him to stay clean. I want him to realize his talents and pursue them when he leaves meth behind. When Walt verbally accosts him, I just want to protect him and tell him everything will be okay.

I think I love these complicated, co-dependent relationships so much because I can observe them from the safety of my couch. I won’t be talked into giving Jesse a ride to the junk yard where x, y, or z could happen. I’m safe. On my couch.

Skylar

Watching from the couch, I cannot stand her. I call her terrible names. Terribly wonderful names.

I want her to leave Walt alone. Let him make his own decisions I say. Except when I realize if Jeremy had cancer I’d probably ride the selfish horse too.

IRL I’d champion her. Kick that deadbeat to the curb, I’d say. Except for her passive aggressive manipulation. I don’t condone that.

Hank

Not much to say here except that I think he’s a fantastic character so far. I love how ‘little’ he thinks of Walt. I can’t imagine what it will be like when he finds out about Walt. I’m guessing that happens at some point.

Marie

I can’t stand her as much as I can’t stand Skylar. Last night I was trying to imagine how annoying their parents must be. Or they are completely wonderful.

Other notes

  • I love the tight story writing/story arcs. It’s beautifully woven.
  • During the 2nd season is when I started to notice the colors. Green = Walt. Purple = Marie. I’m afraid to delve into the BB color wikia, I’m sure it’s full of spoilers.
  • How weird it is to celebrate a show that highlights a drug that ruins people’s lives. Blue rock candy cupcakes. Blue rock candy in baggies at parties.
  • How have they made it half way without any real muscle or weaponry?
  • Did Aaron Paul start BB as his character on Big Love was wrapping up?
  • I read somewhere that Jesse started as a one-season character. I can’t imagine this show without the dynamics between Walt and him.
  • How do they get out of the new fancy cooking laboratory? Is there a buzzer that buzzes somewhere upstairs and they are let out. Or just a button from below that opens it up.

That’s all for now. Please no spoilers.